Time’s up for the Yes2Rail blog, which I launched on June 30, 2008 as a paid consultant on Honolulu's elevated rail project. Yes2Rail’s August 13, 2012 post was its last following the author's move to Sacramento, CA. You’re invited to read four-plus years of information-packed entries, many of which are linked at our “aggregation site.” Look for the paragraph with red copy in the right-hand column, below. Mahalo for all the positive comments Yes2Rail received since its start.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Star-Bulletin: ‘Foolish’ Not To Build Rail Now

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin today continues the daily newspapers’ editorial support for Honolulu’s rail project. Disagreeing with rail critics who urge a go-slow approach, the paper says “…prompt action is warranted to help Hawaii’s economy and keep costs down.” The editorial concludes:

“The reliability of future federal funds is backed by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee. It would be foolish not to capitalize on the circumstances at the very time stimulus is needed.”

2 comments:

Hello!I'm so very happy that I came upon your blog this morning! I am coaching a Hawaii FIRST Lego League Robotics team that will attend one of our state tournaments this November 7th in Honolulu. Their presentation topic is transportation & our kids (9to 13 yrs old)have decided that a maglev train should be the center piece of a comprehensive public transportation system for Oahu that includes electric commuter buses and shared "Flex Car" style access to personal electric transportion vehicles such as Segways.

I know everyone on our team will find this blog a wonderful resource. Wish I would have found you sooner, but better late than never!:)Best,Vanessa Brockus

Hi, Vanessa. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I'm pleased you think your team will find this blog a good resource.

I'm not surprised your students are impressed by the magnetic levitation concept. Levitation of any kind has always been intriguing, but here's what I'd say to them:

Maglev is still in its infancy; there are no such systems in the Americas. The technology is closely held, in contrast with steel-on-steel technology, which is time-tested and perfected. That means there are few options for a municipality wanting to build maglev -- maybe only one supplier.

In a nutshell, Honolulu simply can't afford to be the "test track" for maglev in the United States. As for Segways, each of these technologies has its place, but a mass transit system must serve mass numbers of customers -- day in, day out, good weather and bad. Segways seem like a pretty unattractive way to get around town in a kona storm.

I hope your team spends some time studying Honolulu's well-conceived rail plan, for which groundbreaking is right around the corner.

This Isn't Political

Yes2Rail is a blog about the Honolulu rail transit project, which has become the key issue in this year’s mayoral race. We comment on the candidates’ plans to address Oahu’s growing congestion problem and whether those plans could meet the need as well as elevated rail can and will. That’s not the same as criticizing the candidates, and we urge our readers to recognize the difference.

Another red-light runner meets Denver at-grade train, 6.13.12

Honolulu rail will be elevated, with zero possibility for accidents like those shown in this column in cities with at-grade systems. Visit our "aggregation site" for much more on why elevated rail is the only reasonable way to build Honolulu rail.

What riding the train will avoid

Bus Accident Aftermath on H-1

'Black Tuesday'--9/5/06 Crash Produced Nightmare Commute

Typical H-1 Traffic

About Me

After five years of active-duty service as an Army officer with duty stations in West Berlin and South Vietnam, reported and edited for newspapers and broadcast stations (including all-news radio) in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and Honolulu. Covered Honolulu city government for the Honolulu Advertiser and KGMB-TV. Served on Congressman Cec Heftel's staff in Honolulu and Washington, then managed corporate communications and was Hawaiian Electric Company's spokesman for nearly a decade. A communications consultant for 19 years before moving to California in 2012. Launched, produced and hosted Hawaii Public Radio's "live" weekly "Energy Futures" public affairs program in 2009-10. Authored books on The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ("Punchbowl" 1982) and on the decline of standard grammar in business and society ("Me and Him Are Killing English!" 2007). Now an information officer with the California Department of Water Resources.